Benzodiazepine withdrawal anxiety is associated with potentiation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate receptor (AMPAR) currents in hippocampal CA1pyramidal...Full Text Available
The epileptogenic and neurodegenerative effects of gamma-dendrotoxin, from Dendroaspis angusticeps, a specific blocker of a non-inactivating, voltage-sensitive K+ channel, were studied after focal injection into one dorsal hippocampus in rats pretreated with CGP040116, a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, and in rats bearing a monolateral surgical lesion of the Schaffer collaterals whose terminals originate from CA3 pyramids and release glutamate in the CA1 hippocampal area. Administration of 35 pmol gamma-dendrotoxin elicited in all of the treated animals (n=8) bilateral EEG discharges and damage to the hippocampal formation. Quantitation of the damage revealed significant bilateral neuronal cell loss in the CA1, CA3 and CA4 pyramidal cell layers. The lowest dose (0.35 pmol; n=4) of the toxin used did not affect EEG activity and failed to cause ...
performs Gaussian pyramid operation on an image performs expand pyramid operation on an image mosaic two images using 'reduce' and 'expand' pyramid ...
We give a new Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin operator for the superstring. It implies a quadratic gauge-fixed action, and a new gauge-invariant action with first-class constraints.The infinite pyramid of spinor ghosts appears in a simple way through ghost gamma matrices.
Neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress (OS), whereas those in CA3 are resistant. To uncover mechanisms for selective CA1 vulnerability to OS, we...Full Text Available
Radon concentration measurements were made in the interior of the great pyramid of ''Cheops'' at Giza. Measurements were carried out using CR-39 as a solid state nuclear track detector. The CR-39 sheets were placed inside the Queen's and King's chambers and along the ascending corridor leading to them. An evaluation of the radon concentration is presented and discussed. (author).
Radon concentration measurements were made in the interior of the great pyramid of ''Cheops'' at Giza. Measurements were carried out using CR-39 as a solid state nuclear track detector. The CR-39 sheets were placed inside the Queen's and King's chambers and along the ascending corridor leading to them. An evaluation of the radon concentration is presented and discussed. (author).
Calculation method for pyramidal horn radiators (PHR) with curvilinear generatrix has been developed on the basis of the theory of waveguide tapers. This method makes it possible to reduce the value of spurious reflection coefficients and transformation of the principal wave into waves of higher order modes by forming generatrixes of walls with specific curvilinearity.
Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) grown Ge nanodots are found to come in a clear trimodal island distribution of huts, pyramids, and domes when grown on (001)Si at 550 deg. C. The island types appear in this order as Ge coverage increases and for a certain coverage all three types are found to coexist at this growth temperature. Previously Ge nanodots have mostly been divided into huts and domes at growth temperatures below 600 deg. C, or pyramids and domes above 600 deg. C. The (105) faceted pyramidal and elongated huts and the multifaceted domes are well known, but a distinction has not previously been seen between huts and a separate size distribution of similarly (105)-faceted pyramidal nanodots twice the size of huts, at temperatures below 600 deg. C. The 20-25 nm wide huts also appear to be the smallest obtainable self-assembled Ge dots on (001)Si, in accordance with predictions based on Si_1_-_xGe_x ...
The shapes of dendritic arbors are fascinating and important, yet the principles underlying these complex and diverse structures remain unclear. Here, we analyzed basal dendritic arbors of 2,171 pyramidal...Full Text Available
Place fields of hippocampal pyramidal cells expand asymmetrically when adult rats repeatedly follow the same route. This behaviorally-induced expression of neuronal plasticity utilizes an NMDAR-dependent,...Full Text Available
Evidence is presented for a distinctive type of hippocampal synaptic modification [previously described for a molluscan gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synapse after paired pre- and postsynaptic excitation]:...Full Text Available
Despite their wide use, the physiological relevance of organotypic slices remains controversial. Such cultures are prepared at 5 days postnatal. Although some local circuitry remains intact, they develop...Full Text Available
SummaryPrimary visual cortex recombines inputs from magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) streams to create functionally specialized outputs. Understanding these input-output relationships is complicated by the fact that layer 4B, which provides outputs to dorsal visual areas, contains multiple cell types. Using a modified rabies virus that expresses green fluorescent protein, we show that layer 4B neurons projecting to MT are a majority spiny stellate, whereas those projecting to V2 are overwhelmingly pyramidal. Regardless of cell type, MT-projecting neurons have larger cell bodies, more dendritic length, and are deeper within layer 4B. Furthermore, MT-projecting pyramidal neurons are located preferentially underneath cytochrome oxidase blobs, indicating that MT-projecting neurons of bo...
The Multiconjugate Adaptive optics Demonstrator (MAD) has successfully demonstrated on sky both Star Oriented (SO) and Layer Oriented (LO) multiconjugate adaptive optics techniques. While SO has been realized using 3 Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors (WFS), we designed a multi-pyramid WFS for the LO. The MAD bench accommodates both WFSs and a selecting mirror allows choosing which sensor to use. In the LO approach up to 8 pyramids can be placed on as many reference stars and their light is co-added optically on two different CCDs conjugated at ground and to an high layer. In this paper we discuss LO commissioning phase and on sky operations.
Developing a test standard/protocol for solar box type cookers has drawn a considerable interest among the researchers throughout the world. Recent publications on solar cookers emphasize the need of introducing the thermal performance indicators determined through exergy analysis. In the present paper, the time variation of instantaneous exergy output and energy output as function of its temperature and also of the instantaneous ambient temperature have been reported for truncated pyramid type solar box cooker and compared with those of box type cooker. Further, variations in the exergy lost with temperature difference have been depicted for the selected water temperature range from 60 degreeC to 95 degreeC. Based on this study, quality factor, exergy temperature difference gap product, a...
Despite efforts to control late blight in potatoes by introducing Rpi-genes from wild species into cultivated potato, there are still concerns regarding...Full Text Available
The rapidly activating and inactivating voltage-dependent outward K+ (Kv) current, IA, is widely expressed in central and peripheral neurons. IA has long been...Full Text Available
The authors present a case in which primary Ewing's sarcoma of the right petrous pyramid in a 9-year-old girl showed no uptake on a /sup 99m/Tc-pertechnetate nuclide angiogram. Intense uptake was present on a /sup 99m/Tc-polyphosphate bone scan, but a static brain scan was only minimally abnormal. The diagnosis and treatment of Ewing's sarcoma are reviewed.
The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on 2004 Gordon Research Conference on Reversible Associations in Structure & Molecular Biology was held at Four Points Sheraton, CA, 1/25-30/2004. The Conference was well attended with 82 participants (attendees list attached). The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students.
Decreasing the aperture of a solar central receiver operating at high temperatures contributes significantly to the increase of the efficiency of energy absorption. However, decreasing the aperture also decreases the collection efficiency. A simple solution is using a 3D-CPC as secondary element for augmenting the energy collection, while the aperture can remain relatively small. Nevertheless, the receiver aperture as well as the secondary concentrator are usually rather large. For practical considerations an approximate solution may be chosen at times, designing the concentrator by a series of truncated cones. However, in particular cases, the solution of truncated cones remains expensive and unpractical and therefore the authors designed a CPC approximated by a series of trapezoidal planar facets. Under technical restrictions, there is an optimum for choosing the partition of the pure-CPC in truncated pyramids and the paper presents the method for a good ...
The structure of irreducible representations of (restricted) U_q(sl(3)) at roots of unity is understood within the Gelfand--Zetlin basis. The latter needs a weakened definition, where the quadratic Casimir operator of the quantum subalgebra U_q(sl(2)) of U_q(sl(3)) is not completely diagonalized. This is necessary in order to take in account the indecomposable U_q(sl(2))-modules that appear. The set of redefined (mixed) states has a teepee shape inside the pyramid made with the whole representation.
We construct representation of the Separated Variables (SoV) for the quantum SL(2,R) Heisenberg closed spin chain and obtain the integral representation for the eigenfunctions of the model. We calculate explicitly the Sklyanin measure defining the scalar product in the SoV representation and demonstrate that the language of Feynman diagrams is extremely useful in establishing various properties of the model. The kernel of the unitary transformation to the SoV representation is described by the same "pyramid diagram" as appeared before in the SoV representation for the SL(2,C) spin magnet. We argue that this kernel is given by the product of the Baxter Q-operators projected onto a special reference state.
The total area (s m) of Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedron faces corresponding to all intermolecular contacts of one molecule in the structure of crystals and the total volume of pyramids (V m) built on such faces and containing the nuclei of atoms participating in intermolecular contacts in their vertices were determined for 19 unsaturated hydrocarbons. The differential molar heat of adsorption of the hydrocarbons on graphitized thermal carbon black was found to be linearly related to the s m or V m integral parameters of their Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedra. Aromatic hydrocarbons on the one hand and saturated hydrocarbons, olefins, and acetylene on the other are characterized by different dependences because of the special shapes of their molecular Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedra.
The total area ( s m) of Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedron faces corresponding to all intermolecular contacts of one molecule in the structure of crystals and the total volume of pyramids ( V m) built on such faces and containing the nuclei of atoms participating in intermolecular contacts in their vertices were determined for 19 unsaturated hydrocarbons. The differential molar heat of adsorption of the hydrocarbons on graphitized thermal carbon black was found to be linearly related to the s m or V m integral parameters of their Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedra. Aromatic hydrocarbons on the one hand and saturated hydrocarbons, olefins, and acetylene on the other are characterized by different dependences because of the special shapes of their molecular Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedra.
Crystalline Pd_9Si_2 possesses an orthorhombic structure (Pnma) that is characterized by augmented triangular prismatic coordination of the silicon atoms such as that which occurs in several metal-rich transition-metal silicides. Recent neutron diffraction results for deuterium solution in this crystalline phase have indicated that deuterium occupies only one type of interstice, i.e., a Pd-defined pyramidal site in a four-fold position situated on a quadrilateral face of an empty triangular prism. The vibrational dynamics of both H and D located at this site were investigated by neutron vibrational spectroscopy. The low-temperature density of states (DOS) of H in Pd_9Si_2H_0_._2_5 indicates three well-defined optic vibrations located at 49.4, 67.2 and 75.5 meV. The lowest-energy feature is assigned to the normal-mode vibration perpendicular to the pyramidal base and the two higher-energy features are assigned to the two orthogonal normal-mode ...
The purpose of this experimental study is to investigate the micromechanical fatigue behavior, in terms of slip nature and preferential cracking sites, of a commercial #alpha#/#beta#-forged Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Electron backscattering diffraction is extensively used to identify the deformation (prismatic, basal, pyramidal slip) and crack formation modes activated by fatigue at the surface of several hundred primary #alpha# nodules. Some fatal crack formation sites are also characterized. Cracking in basal planes is identified as the most critical damage mode leading to fracture. An explanation is proposed which involves the resolved shear stress, taking into account the Schmid factor and the normal stress in relation to the elastic anisotropy of the #alpha#-phase. Finally, the spatial distribution of the secondary cracks is analyzed according to the crystallographic textures (macrozones) present on a mesoscopic scale in the Ti-6Al-4V alloy.
Summary Metabotropic GABAB receptors play a fundamental role in modulating the excitability of neurons and circuits throughout the brain. These receptors influence synaptic transmission by inhibiting presynaptic release or activating postsynaptic potassium channels. However, their ability to directly influence different types of postsynaptic glutamate receptors remains unresolved. Here we examine GABAB receptor modulation in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons from the mouse prefrontal cortex. We use two-photon laser-scanning microscopy to study synaptic modulation at individual dendritic spines. Using two-photon optical quantal analysis, we first demonstrate robust presynaptic modulation of multivesicular release at single synapses. Using two-photon glutamate uncaging, we then reveal that GABAB r...
We construct the Baxter Q-operator and the representation of the Separated Variables (SoV) for the homogeneous open SL(2,R) spin chain. Applying the diagrammatical approach, we calculate Sklyanin's integration measure in the separated variables and obtain the solution to the spectral problem for the model in terms of the eigenvalues of the Q-operator. We show that the transition kernel to the SoV representation is factorized into the product of certain operators each depending on a single separated variable. As a consequence, it has a universal pyramid-like form that has been already observed for various quantum integrable models such as periodic Toda chain, closed SL(2,R) and SL(2,C) spin chains.
The gliding modes of a duplex Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy were investigated through in situ (scanning electron microscopy) tensile tests. A method based on electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) measurements was used to identify activated slip systems. The approach applied to a large number of grains allowed a statistical analysis of the nature (basal, prismatic, pyramidal) and distribution of the slip systems according to the crystallographic texture. A discussion concerning the pertinence of Schmid's law to explain the occurrence and succession of slip events is then proposed. The domain in favor of each type of slip system is finally presented by using inverse pole figures mapped with Schmid's factor iso-curves.
This paper provides both a detailed history of environmental change in the Sierra Nevada over the past 1,800?years and evidence for climate teleconnections between the Sierra Nevada and Greenland during the late Holocene. A review of Greenland ice core data suggests that the magnitudes of abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation increased beginning c. 3,700 and 3,000?years ago, respectively. Precipitation increased abruptly 1,300?years ago. Comparing paleotemperature data from Cirque Peak, CA with paleoprecipitation data from Pyramid Lake, NV suggests that hot temperatures occurred at the beginnings of most severe droughts in the Sierra Nevada over the past 1,800?years. Severe fires and erosion also occurred at Coburn Lake, CA at the beginning of all severe droughts in the Sierra Ne...
Mesocarp tissue from sucrose-accumulating sweet melon (Cucumis melo cv. Galia) showed sucrose synthase activity (ca1 nkat/gfw) while soluble acid invertase and sucrose phosphate synthase activities were not observed. Sucrose uptake into mesocarp discs was linear with sucrose concentration (1-500 mM) and unaffected by PCMBS and CCCP. Sucrose compartmentation into the vacuole also increased linearly with sucrose concentration as indicated by compartmental efflux kinetics. Mesocarp discs incubated in /sup 14/C-fructose + UDP-glu synthesized /sup 14/C-sucrose and efflux kinetics indicated that the /sup 14/C-sucrose was compartmentalized. These data support the hypothesis that two mechanisms are involved in sucrose accumulation in sweet melon: (1) compartmentation of intact sucrose and (2) synthesis of sucrose via sucrose synthase and subsequent compartmentation in the vacuole.
This paper demonstrates a proof-of-concept approach for encapsulating the insulin and Fe3O4 nanoparticles into size-controllable alginate microcapsules utilizing the electrostatic droplets (ESD) technique. We have established that the combination of ESD and external gelation is quite effective in producing uniform-sized polymer particles. In addition, using the external gelation technique, the droplets containing a sodium-alginate were gelled in situ by immersion in Ca2+, Ba2+, or Cu2+ ions for a few minutes. The results show that different-type divalent cations caused various surface features to appear on the microcapsules (e.g., cracking, orange peel, pitting, splitting, wrinkling, etc.). The particle size can be adjusted from a few micrometers to ca. 1,000??m by electrostatic force. The...
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Tong Luo Jiu Nao (TLJN) is a modern Chinese formula based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory that has been used to treat ischemic cerebral stroke and vascular dementia. TLJN belongs to the ethnopharmacological family of medicines. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of the TLJN effect on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aim of the study: To investigate the effect of TLJN on b-amyloid-degrading enzymes and learning and memory in the AD rat brain. Materials and methods: AD rats whose disease was induced by Ab25-35 injection into the bilateral hippocampus CA1 region were subjected to intragastric administration of various preparations. The experimental animals were healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats which were randomly divided into normal, sham, model, TLJN...
The association between invasive and native species varies across spatial scales and is affected by phylogenetic relatedness, but these issues have rarely been addressed in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we used a non-native, highly invasive species of Poaceae (tropical signalgrass) to test the hypotheses that (i) tropical signalgrass success correlates negatively with success of most native species of macrophytes at fine spatial scales, but its success correlates positively or at random with natives at coarse spatial scales, and that (ii) tropical signalgrass is less associated with native species belonging to the family Poaceae than with species belonging to other families (Darwin?s naturalization hypothesis). We used a dataset obtained at fine (0.25?m2) and coarse (ca. 1,000?m2) sca...
We explored ways of doing spatial search within a relational database: (1) hierarchical triangular mesh (a tessellation of the sphere), (2) a zoned bucketing system, and (3) representing areas as disjunctive-normal form constraints. Each of these approaches has merits. They all allow efficient point-in-region queries. A relational representation for regions allows Boolean operations among them and allows quick tests for point-in-region, regions-containing-point, and region-overlap. The speed of these algorithms is much improved by a zone and multi-scale zone-pyramid scheme. The approach has the virtue that the zone mechanism works well on B-Trees native to all SQL systems and integrates naturally with current query optimizers - rather than requiring a new spatial access method and concomitant query optimizer extensions. Over the last 5 years, we have used these techniques extensively in our work on SkyServer.sdss.org, and SkyQuery.net.
Copper(II) complex coordinated with cyclam-type macrocyclic tetramine, C-meso-1,5,8,12-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (2Cdmc) has been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis and UV?Vis absorption spectra. Solved molecular structure of [Cu(2Cdmc)(H2O)]Cl2?2H2O (1) revealed that macrocyclic ligand 2Cdmc was in the most stable trans-III structure, but the C-methyl groups of 2Cdmc adopted energetically unfavorable axial configuration (C-axial). This complex 1 is the second example of complex of cyclam-type tetramine with only axially oriented C-methyl groups. This complex adopted five-coordinated square-pyramidal geometry with one water molecule occupying one of the two apical sites. Network of hydrogen bonds involving counter anions (Cl?...
In this study, SnO{sub 2} thin films have been grown using spray pyrolysis technique on glass substrates under a substrate temperature (T{sub s} = 440 {sup o}C). The precursors were methanol CH{sub 4}O and anhydrous tin tetrachloride. XRD analyses yielded strong (1 1 0)-(1 0 1)-(2 0 0) X-ray diffraction peaks which are characteristics to tetragonal crystals. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses showed the existence of clusters with particular pyramidal shapes. The main part of this study concerns the optical measurements of transmittance T({lambda}) and reflectance R({lambda}) spectra inside 250-1800 nm domain. Conjoint optical and thermal properties were deduced using the Amlouk-Boubaker Opto-Thermal Expansivity {psi}{sub AB}. The obtained value: {psi}{sub AB} {approx} 23.4 m{sup 3} s{sup -1} helped situating the performance of the as-grown SnO{sub 2} compound among most known PV-T oxides like ZnO and TiO{sub 2}.
In this study, SnO2 thin films have been grown using spray pyrolysis technique on glass substrates under a substrate temperature (Ts = 440 oC). The precursors were methanol CH4O and anhydrous tin tetrachloride. XRD analyses yielded strong (1 1 0)-(1 0 1)-(2 0 0) X-ray diffraction peaks which are characteristics to tetragonal crystals. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses showed the existence of clusters with particular pyramidal shapes. The main part of this study concerns the optical measurements of transmittance T(?) and reflectance R(?) spectra inside 250-1800 nm domain. Conjoint optical and thermal properties were deduced using the Amlouk-Boubaker Opto-Thermal Expansivity ?AB. The obtained value: ?AB ? 23.4 m3 s-1 helped situating the performance of the as-grown SnO2 compound among most known PV-T oxides like ZnO and TiO2.
Continuous metallic glass ribbons were produced by mejans of liquid-quenching at rates >10/sup 50/C/s. The ribbons, typically 30 ..mu..m thick and 1 to 2 mm wide, were determined to be glassy by X-ray diffraction (XRD) employing CuK..cap alpha.. and MoK..cap alpha.. radiation. Mechanical properties of the as-quenched product were determined by measurements of hardness, tensile strength and Young's modulus. The Vicker's diamond pyramid microhardness (H/sub V/) was measured on epoxy mounted samples using a Lietz Miniload instrument with a 100 g load. Tensile tests were conducted in an Instron machine using specimens which were hand-polished to produce smooth, parallel sides. Young's modulus (E) is given by the relationship rho V/sub E/sup 2//. V/sub E/, the velocity of extensional mode waves, was measured by the pulse-echo technique using a Panametrics Intervalometer and glass density, rho, was obtained by the liquid immersion method. ...
A preliminary design effort directed toward a low concentration ratio photovoltaic array system based on 1984 technology and capable of delivering multi-hundred kilowatts (300 kW to 100 kW range) in low Earth orbit is described. The array system consists of two or more array modules each capable of delivering between 113 kW to 175 kW using silicon solar cells or gallium arsenide solar cells, respectively. The array module deployed area is 1320 square meters and consists of 4356 pyramidal concentrator elements. The module, when stowed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay, has a stowage volume of a cube with 3.24 meters on a side. The concentrator elements are sized for a geometric concentration ratio (GCR) of six with an aperture area of 0.5 meters x 0.5 meters. Drawings for the preliminary design configuration and for the test hardware that was fabricated for design evaluation and test are provided.
A preliminary design effort directed toward a low concentration ratio photovoltaic array system capable of delivering multihundred kilowatts (300 kW to 1000 kW range) in low earth orbit is described. The array system consists of two or more array modules each capable of delivering between 113 kW to 175 kW using silicon solar cells or gallium arsenide solar cells, respectively. The array module deployed area is 1320 square meters and consists of 4356 pyramidal concentrator elements. The module, when stowed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay, has a stowage volume of a cube with 3.24 meters on a side. The concentrator elements are sized for a geometric concentration ratio (GCR) of six with an aperture area of .25 sq. m. The structural analysis and design trades leading to the baseline design are discussed. It describes the configuration, as well as optical, thermal and electrical performance analyses that support the design and overall performance estimates ...
We investigate a new texturization technique for crystalline silicon solar cells with sodium carbonate (Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) solutions. We show the dependence of the hemispherical surface reflectance on solution temperature, the etching time and the Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} concentration. Furthermore, we investigate what element in Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} solution influences the texturing for reducing the texturing time. As a result of experiments, we find it possible to get low reflectance in a shorter texturing time by the addition of NaHCO{sub 3}. The size of texture becomes smaller by the addition of NaHCO{sub 3} but the etching rate does not change. We conclude carbonic ion and/or its compound seems to play an important role as the initiator of pyramidal structure. This texturing method is cost effective because there is no need of expensive IPA, and the surface reflectance is reduced sufficiently in a short time. This method is promising for a large-scale production of ...
The growth of epitaxial MnO(100) and MnO(111) layers on Pd(100) surface has been investigated by spot-profile analysis low-energy electron diffraction, dynamic atomic force microscopy, photoemission and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, and density functional theory. We have found that despite the large lattice mismatch to the Pd(100) substrate, the MnO(100) layers are kinetically stabilized at low temperatures (?350 deg. C) and at oxygen pressures between 2x10-7 and 5x10-7 mbar. Annealing in ultrahigh vacuum at 650 deg. C or, alternatively, deposition of manganese metal in oxygen pressure -7 mbar causes the transformation of the MnO(100) to a polar MnO(111) surface, which is decorated by triangular pyramids with (100) side facets. It is suggested that the growth of MnO(111) layers is energetically preferred over MnO(100) due to the epitaxial stabilization at the metal-oxide interface.
Intermetallic compound (IMC) growth at the interface between a Sn coating and a Cu substrate with or without a Ni underlayer and its related stress state was evaluated by real-time measurements using the flexure beam method. For the Sn coating without a Ni underlayer, pyramid-shaped IMC grains of Cu6Sn5 grew along the grain boundaries of Sn from the Cu substrate, especially at the triple grain boundary junctions and the IMC grains rapidly increased their volume during the initial 3?days, During this time, the IMC growth rate was 2.3??m3/day and the compressive stress in the Sn coating rapidly developed and became saturated at about ?11?MPa. In contrast, platelet IMC grains of Ni3Sn4 formed at the surface of the Ni underlayer and the IMCs grew at a rate of 1.0??m3/day for the Sn/Ni coating....
EPR and FT-IR absorption measurements have been performed for xCuO.(100-x)[2Bi2O3.B2O3] glass system, with 0?x?50 mol%. The mode in which the addition of the copper ions influences the structure of 2Bi2O3.B2O3 glass matrix was analyzed. The EPR absorption spectra revealed the presence in the glass structure of Cu2+ ions in axially distorted octahedral environments. EPR data pointed out the simultaneous presence of Cu2+ and Cu+ ionic species in the glasses with x?5 mol%. For x>10 mol%, the Cu2+ ions participate in the superexchange magnetic interactions, which increase with CuO content. The FT-IR spectra showed the presence of some bands that are assigned to vibrations of Bi-O bonds from BiO3 pyramidal and BiO6 octahedral units and B-O bonds from BO3 and BO4 units. The data obtained by these measurements reveal the structural changes in the 2Bi2O3.B2O3 glass matrix by controlled doping of CuO.
Neutron semiconductor detectors for neutron counting and neutron radiography have an increasing importance. Simple silicon neutron detectors are combination of a planar diode with a layer of an appropriate neutron converter such as 6LiF. These devices have limited detection efficiency of not more than 5%. The detection efficiency can be increased by creating a 3D microstructure of dips, trenches or pores in the detector and filling it with a neutron converter. The first results related to the development of such devices are presented. Silicon detectors were fabricated with pyramidal dips on the surface covered with 6LiF and then irradiated by thermal neutrons. Pulse height spectra of the energy deposited in the sensitive volume were compared with simulations. The detection efficiency of these devices was about 6.3%. Samples with different column sizes were fabricated to study the electrical properties of 3D structures. Charge collection efficiencies in silicon ...
The energy E(c/a) for a bcc element stretched along its [001] axis (the Bain path) has a minimum at c/a=1, a maximum at c/a=#sq root#(2), and an elastically unstable local minimum at c/a>#sq root#(2). An alternative path connecting the bcc and fcc structures is the rhombohedral lattice. The primitive lattice has R3m symmetry, with the angle #alpha# changing from 109.4 deg. (bcc), to 90 deg. (simple cubic), to 60 deg. (fcc). We study this path for the non-magnetic bcc transition metals (V, Nb, Mo, Ta, and W) using both all-electron linearized augmented plane wave and projector augmented wave VASP codes. Except for Ta, the energy E(#alpha#) has a local maximum at #alpha#=60 deg., with local minima near 55 deg. and 70 deg., the latter having lower energy, suggesting the possibility of a metastable rhombohedral state for these materials. We first examine the elastic stability of the 70 deg. minimum structure, and determine that only W is elastically stable in this structure, with the ...
Rhenium is technetium`s third row congener and exhibits many of the chemical properties that technetium displays. Theoretically, a Re-PhAT complex will be isostructural with the {sup 99m}Tc PhAT complexes that have been prepared for use as brain imaging agents. A series of neutral rhenium(V) oxo complexes was synthesized by the reaction of ReOBr{sub 4}{sup {minus}} with diamino-thiol-thioether ligands of the type (RSC(CH{sub 3}){sub 2})CH{sub 2}NH(o-C{sub 6}H{sub 4})NHCH{sub 2}C(CH{sub 3}){sub 2}SH. The complexes were characterized by IR, UV/visible, and {sup 1}H and {sup 13}C NMR spectroscopy and by fast-atom-bombardment mass spectroscopy. The single-crystal X-ray structure determination on two of the complexes, where R = CH{sub 2}CH{double_bond}CH{sub 2} and CH{sub 2}CH{sub 2}-CH{sub 3}, showed them to consist of a square pyramidal Re{sup V}ON{sub 2}S{sub 2} core. ReO[CH{sub 2}{double_bond}CHCH{sub 2}SC(CH{sub 3}){sub 2}CH{sub 2}N(o-C{sub 6}H{sub 4})NCH{sub ...
Purpose/Objective: At present, treatment verification between portal and reference images is performed based on manually-identified features by radiation oncologist, which is both time-consuming and potentially error-prone. There is a demand for the computerized verification procedure in clinical application. The purpose of this study is to develop a computerized portal verification scheme for pelvic treatment fields. Materials/Methods: The automated verification system involves image acquisition, image feature extraction, feature matching between reference and portal images and quantitative evaluation of patient setup. Electronic portal images with a matrix size of 256 x 256 and 12 bit gray levels were acquired using a liquid matrix electronic portal imaging device. Simulation images were acquired by digitizing simulation films using a TV camera into images with 256 x 256 matrix and 8 bit gray levels. Initially a Canny edge detector is applied to identify the field edges and an ...
Measurements of the relaxation of the D{sub 2}O stretch mode in vitreous As{sub 2}S{sub 3} are presented. Because the bending mode of the molecule offers an intra-molecular decay channel for the stretch mode, the decay scheme of the D{sub 2}O molecule is more complex than that of diatomic molecules. The asymmetric stretch mode of D{sub 2}O has a frequency of 2680 cm{sup -1}. To study the relaxation of this mode we applied a pump-probe technique, using intense psec; pulses of the Stanford Free Electron Laser. Due to the small cross-section of the vibrational mode, successful efforts were made to improve the signal to noise ratio by using a laser stabilization system and a tightly focused beam to increase the intensity, by averaging the signal with a kHz repetition rate and by using samples with an optimized D{sub 2}O concentration. A rapid relaxation rate on the order of 5 x 10{sup 9} sec{sup -1} at low temperature is found that increases with temperature. Recalling that the bending ...
The ternary zirconium palladium silicide ZrPd{sub 3}Si{sub 3} has been synthesized by arc-melting of the elemental components. It adopts a new structure type and crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with a = 3.8127(4){angstrom}, b = 15.551(1){angstrom}, c = 7.0390(5){angstrom}, and Z = 4 (Pearson symbol oC28). The structure can be regarded as being built up of Re{sub 3}B-type slabs of composition Pd{sub 3}Si alternating with {alpha}-FeSi{sub 2} slabs of composition ZrSi{sub 2}. Notable features include the presence of Si{sub 2} pairs, square pyramidal and tetrahedral coordination of Pd centers by Si atoms, an unusual distorted cubic coordination of the Zr atoms by the Si{sub 2} pairs, and an extensive network of Zr-Zr, Zr-Pd, and Pd-Pd metal-metal bonds. ZrPd{sub 3}Si{sub 3} is weakly metallic with a room-temperature resistivity of 1.7 x 10{sup {minus}3} {Omega} cm. Extended Hueckel band structure calculations confirm the metallic behavior; support the ...
An experimental investigation of the effect of nickel content on irradiation hardening of reactor pressure vessel steels was conducted. The alloys studied, with nickel contents ranging from 0 to 1.7%, included five sets of steels representing variations in copper contents and other metallurgical variables. Various subsets of the alloys were irradiated at selected combinations of flux, fluence, and irradiation temperature. Irradiation hardening was measured by either changes in the uniaxial yield stress or diamond pyramid hardness. Higher hardening rates with increasing nickel were observed in controlled experiments on commercial-type steels containing high copper concentrations (0.4% Cu). The effect of nickel increased with increasing fluence and decreasing temperature. At high fluence (>10"1"9 n/cm"2) the hardening increased with nickel at an average rate of about 100 MPa/%Ni. There also appeared to be an influence of heat treatment on the nickel sensitivity of ...
The new nonlinear optical crystal Rb3V5O14 has been synthesized by solid state reaction and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR and thermogravimetric analysis. The crystal Rb3V5O14 crystallizes in the trigonal system with space P31m (No. 157), a=b=8.7134(12) A, c=5.2807(11) A and ?=90o, ?=90o, ?=120o, Z=1, ?=3.516 g/cm3. It is a layered structure that is very flat and strongly parallel to c. The V5O14 layer structure consists of corner-linked square and triangular pyramids. The layers are separated by Rb+ ions, which fit equally well on the V5O14 layer. The Kurtz powder SHG measurement, using 1064 nm radiation, showed that the second-harmonic generation efficiency of Rb3V5O14 is about two times that of KDP. -- Graphical abstract: The new nonlinear optical crystal Rb3V5O14 has been synthesized by solid state reaction and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR and thermogravimetric analysis. The crystal Rb3V5O14 crystallizes in the ...
The symmetrical complexes [{sup 99m}Tc][TcN(R{sub 2}PS{sub 2}){sub 2}] [R = CH{sub 3}, CH{sub 2}CH{sub 3}, CH{sub 2}CH{sub 2}CH{sub 3}, CH{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}){sub 2}], and the unsymmetrical complex [{sup 99m}Tc][TcN(Me{sub 2}PS{sub 2})(Et{sub 2}PS{sub 2})] have been prepared, at tracer level, through a two-step procedure involving the preliminary formation of a prereduced technetium nitrido intermediate followed by substitution reaction onto this species by the appropriate dithiophosphinate ligand [R{sub 2}PS{sub 2}]Na. The chemical identity of the resulting complexes have been established by comparison with the corresponding {sup 99}Tc-analogs prepared, at macroscopic level, by reacting the complex [{sup 99}TcNCl{sub 4}] [n-Bu{sub 4}N] (n-Bu = n-butyl) with an excess of ligand in methanol, and characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic techniques. The complexes are neutral and lipophilic, and possess a square pyramidal geometry, with an apical Tc N group ...
The symmetrical complexes ["9"9"mTc][TcN(R_2PS_2)_2] [R = CH_3, CH_2CH_3, CH_2CH_2CH_3, CH_2(CH_3)_2], and the unsymmetrical complex ["9"9"mTc][TcN(Me_2PS_2)(Et_2PS_2)] have been prepared, at tracer level, through a two-step procedure involving the preliminary formation of a prereduced technetium nitrido intermediate followed by substitution reaction onto this species by the appropriate dithiophosphinate ligand [R_2PS_2]Na. The chemical identity of the resulting complexes have been established by comparison with the corresponding "9"9Tc-analogs prepared, at macroscopic level, by reacting the complex ["9"9TcNCl_4] [n-Bu_4N] (n-Bu = n-butyl) with an excess of ligand in methanol, and characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic techniques. The complexes are neutral and lipophilic, and possess a square pyramidal geometry, with an apical Tc N group and two dithiophosphinate ligands spanning the four positions on the basal plane through the four sulfur atoms of ...
Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), a form of Hebbian plasticity, is inherently stabilizing. Whether and how GABAergic inhibition influences STDP is not well understood. Using a model neuron driven by converging inputs modifiable by STDP, we determined that a sufficient level of inhibition was critical to ensure that temporal coherence (correlation among presynaptic spike times) of synaptic inputs, rather than initial strength or number of inputs within a pathway, controlled postsynaptic spike timing. Inhibition exerted this effect by preferentially reducing synaptic efficacy, the ability of inputs to evoke postsynaptic action potentials, of the less coherent inputs. In visual cortical slices, inhibition potently reduced synaptic efficacy at ages during but not before the critical period of ocular dominance (OD) plasticity. Whole-cell recordings revealed that the amplitude of unitary IPSCs from parvalbumin positive (Pv+) interneurons to pyramidal neurons ...
EPR and FT-IR absorption measurements have been performed for xCuO.(100-x)[2Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}.B{sub 2}O{sub 3}] glass system, with 0{<=}x{<=}50 mol%. The mode in which the addition of the copper ions influences the structure of 2Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}.B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glass matrix was analyzed. The EPR absorption spectra revealed the presence in the glass structure of Cu{sup 2+} ions in axially distorted octahedral environments. EPR data pointed out the simultaneous presence of Cu{sup 2+} and Cu{sup +} ionic species in the glasses with x{>=}5 mol%. For x>10 mol%, the Cu{sup 2+} ions participate in the superexchange magnetic interactions, which increase with CuO content. The FT-IR spectra showed the presence of some bands that are assigned to vibrations of Bi-O bonds from BiO{sub 3} pyramidal and BiO{sub 6} octahedral units and B-O bonds from BO{sub 3} and BO{sub 4} units. The data obtained by these measurements reveal the structural changes ...
We have investigated the growth behaviors of high temperature compatible ZrO_2 insulation coatings on Ag and AgMg sheathed Bi_2Sr_2Ca_1Cu_2O_x superconducting tapes depending on number of dipping and thermal conditions. The coatings were fabricated on long-length superconducting tape substrates using a solution derived from Zr tetrabutoxide, solvent and chelating agent for high magnetic field magnets. The layer-on-layer growth behaviors were characterized by environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray maps and X-ray diffraction (XRD). This research showed that the ZrO_2 coatings were regularly grown on Ag-based tape substrates and coating thickness increased with increasing number of dipping. It was found that ceramic oxides formed at temperature range 450 and 550 deg. C. The final coating thickness changed between 6 and 8 #mu#m after annealing process. Resistance of insulation measured from ...
Precambrian gneisses in the San Bernardino Mountains were first identified and described in the vicinity of Baldwin Lake by Guillou (1953). Five lithologic units mappable at 1:24,000 scale are recognized: biotite [+-] muscovite quartzofeldspathic gneiss, amphibolite, pyroxene metagabbro, augen gneiss, and biotite [+-] muscovite granitic gneiss. Baldwin gneiss with this L Baldwin Lake, the gneissic fabric is rotated toward the northwest, subparallel to the Doble fault. Along this fault, Baldwin gneiss is structurally underlain by overturned Paleozoic quartzite and marble (Zabriskie Quartzite and Carrara Formation). Regional relations suggest that the Doble fault is a northeast-directed basement thrust fault of pre-Late Cretaceous age, and may be contemporaneous with late Paleozoic deformation and metamorphism of Paleozoic rocks further west in the range. Field relations suggest that Baldwin gneiss in its type area largely retains Proterozoic fabrics and mineral assemblages, despite ...
Ternary copper(II) complexes [Cu(L1)B](ClO4) (1, 2) and [Cu(L2)B](ClO4) (3, 4), where HL1 and HL2 are tridentate NSO- and ONO-donor Schiff bases and B is a heterocyclic base, viz. dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq, 1 and 3) or dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz, 2 and 4), were prepared and their DNA binding and photoinduced DNA cleavage activity studied. Complex 1, structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, shows an axially elongated square-pyramidal (4 + 1) coordination geometry in which the monoanionic L1 binds at the equatorial plane. The NN-donor dpq ligand exhibits an axial-equatorial binding mode. The complexes display good binding propensity to calf thymus DNA, giving a relative order 2 (NSO-dppz) > 4 (ONO-dppz) > 1 (NSO-dpq) > 3 (ONO-dpq). They cleave supercoiled pUC19 DNA to its nicked circular form when treated with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) by formation of hydroxyl radicals as the cleavage active species ...
This study focuses the granitoids of center-southern portion of Guyana Shield, southeastern Roraima, Brazil. The region is characterized by two tectonic-stratigraphic domains, named as Central Guyana (GCD) and Uatuma-Anaua (UAD) and located probably in the limits of geochronological provinces (e.g. Ventuari-Tapajos or Tapajos-Parima, Central Amazonian and Maroni-Itacaiunas or Transamazon). The aim this doctoral thesis is to provide new petrological and lithostratigraphic constraints on the granitoid rocks and contribute to a better understanding of the origin and geo dynamic evolution of Guyana Shield. The GCD is only locally studied near to the UAD boundary, and new geological data and two single zircon Pb-evaporation ages in mylonitic biotite granodiorite (1.89 Ga) and foliated hastingsite-biotite granite (1.72 Ga) are presented. These ages of the protholiths contrast with the lithostratigraphic picture in the other areas of Cd (1.96-1.93 Ga). Regional mapping, petrography, ...
The measuring series was performed from November 1991 through April 1992 in seven drinking-water conditioning plants of the Fichtel mountains area in the north-eastern part of Bavaria, and the results revealed as an annual average a dose of about 1 - 40 WLM. The area of interest is a drinking-water catchment area where the ground water and other water resources include waters particularly rich in radon content, which explains this relatively high dose range. This is why comprehensive, specific local and long-term mearurements were carried out in order to assess the occupational radiation dose in the drinking-water conditioning plants, taking as a model site the conditioning plant of the municipal utilities of Hof in Weissenstadt. These more specific measurements were performed by the Technical Inspectorates (TUeV) of Bavaria and Saxony and the isotope laboratory of Georg-August University of Goettingen in mid-April 1994 (Goettingen University, TUeV Saxonia and Bavaria) and from June ...
Purpose: Antitumor activity of the dichloroplatinum(II)-histamine complexes labeled with I-125 or I-131 was investigated in a transplantable murine adenocarcinoma (MA) model. Methods: The tumor model was obtained in C3H/W female mice after subcutaneous inoculation of the tumor cells derived from the mice bearing a mammary tumor of spontaneous origin. Antitumor activities of the platinum-histamine complexes were investigated in three independent experiments, which differed in applied doses of preparations (PtCl{sub 2}Hist, PtCl{sub 2}[{sup 125}I]Hist, PtCl{sub 2}[{sup 131}I]Hist, PtCl{sub 2}Hist/PtCl{sub 2}[{sup 125}I]Hist and PtCl{sub 2}Hist/PtCl{sub 2}[{sup 131}I]Hist), treatment schedules as well as stages of the disease progress in the animals used. Experiment 1 included long-term, multidose treatment with low single doses (treatment duration 31-32 days; 8-10 doses of ca. 0.25{center_dot}MTD{sub Pt} each). Experiment 2 included short-term, multidose treatment with higher single ...
Pr{sub 2}[Mo{sub 2}C{sub 3}] was obtained by arc melting of the elements followed by annealing at 1500 C in arc welded and sealed Mo-ampoules. The compound was characterised by chemical analyses, X-ray diffraction and metallography. The crystal structure (monoclinic, P2{sub 1}/c, Z = 4, a = 597.99(10) pm, b = 665.15(11) pm, c = 1185.60(19) pm and {beta} = 111.631(5) ) represents a new structure type containing a three dimensional polyanion {sub {infinity}}{sup 3}[(Mo{sub 2}C{sub 3}){sup 6-}] with Molybdenum(III) in a distorted tetrahedral coordination by carbo-ligands. Tetrameric building-blocks, Mo{sub 4}C{sub 10}, of edge sharing MoC{sub 4}-tetrahedra are arranged to form layers running parallel to (100). The layers are interconnected along [100] by sharing common apices of the MoC{sub 4} tetrahedra. The coordination polyhedra around praseodymium represent distorted (PrC{sub 5})-arrangements (mono capped tetrahedra and square pyramids). The metal atoms together ...
It has been acknowledged that river morphology and hydrology have been intensively altered due to the anthropic demands in floodplain land use and management, flood protection, promotion of navigability or energy production. Rivers were transformed in water highways, having lost contact with their surrounding floodplain as well as the plethora of ecological processes and occupants once thriving in these ecotonal zones. The identification of this emerging threat of morphological and hydrological alteration on ecological integrity adds further complexity in the exploitation of hydrosystem resources. These resources are heavily coveted and guarded by different lobbies each having strategic views on future project development. Stakeholders may want to promote hydro-electricity, ecologists a natural reserve, communes may wish to have an increased flood protection and leisure promoters a nautical center. As a result, the proposition of a river development project is certain to face ...